Picture Book Month Display

November is my favourite Library month of the year!!  It's Picture Book Month!  For me, picture books are just magical.  So many stories, with all the beautiful illustrations that make the whole thing come to life - and all the layers within the stories and pictures.  Picture Books are never truly just for kids - they are SO much more than that. 

There is a display up in the Library with book covers from some of our staff and students favourite Picture Books  - and I have made and  attached a QR Code to all the ones I could -which should take you to a YouTube clip of the story being read. 

 Give it a try - it's a good way to get into the magic of QR  Codes - another one of my passions!  They can be used for SO much amazing stuff. 

Never underestimate the power of Picture Books - they are personal as well as universal. And they are very, very important - no matter how grown up you may think you are. You should never get so old that you don't read Picture books - that would just be too sad!

Have a wonderful weekend and take time to read!  And .. if anyone was counting, which I'm sure you're not .. 4 weeks to the end of term!

Life is only travelled once - today's moment becomes tomorrow's memory.

Enjoy every moment! 

Few thoughts on the 'Age of Information'

So ...  my offering for today.  Some things to mull over and discuss ....

Check out the YouTube link below on 'What the Internet is doing to our Brains'.  Take a quick look - it's a total of 4 minutes.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKaWJ72x1rI

And for those interested - it could be worth reading the book 'Filter Bubble' by Eli Pariser.  This term was coined by the author and refers to what happens when a website algorithm selectively guesses what information a user would like to see based on previous searches.  The theory is that users get less exposure to conflicting viewpoints and then can become isolated intellectually within their own little 'informational bubble'.  I have previously mentioned this title:
http://barklycollegelibraries.blogspot.com.au/2015/

The 'personalisation tools' that Google and other information sources use increase  the chance that people are more likely to continue to be offered information that often helps to reinforce their world views.   This then goes some way towards negating other points of view - and can therefore have an impact by limiting empathy and understanding of other peoples thoughts and feelings.

Maybe take a few minutes to watch the TED talk by the author:
https://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles

I'm not advocating barring Google, YouTube and so on - I doubt that I would survive in this job today without them!  There is often a perception (Filter Bubble again) that Libraries and the Internet are in some sort of competition as sources of information but in fact, truth is - we need each other in today's Age of Information and serving clients needs! 

Have an awesome day folks!

The e-list Site

http://the-e-list.tumblr.com/

Some of the recent lists that have appeared on this site include:

• 4 tools to save your notes, resources and for inspiration
• 9 Youtube channels to keep you informed
• 4 one-app wonders - all your apps in one app
• 4 ways to store your documents securely in the cloud

The link is above so take a few minutes and have a look around.  You may find something that is of use to you.

Have an awesome day.